1962–63 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta

Written by Steve Ahlgrim

Courtesy of Bonhams

The Ferrari 250 GT Omologato needs little introduction as the most iconic, most habitable, street-useable, race-winning, World Championship-winning — and simply gorgeous — closed two-seat coupe car from the world-famous Maranello factory. The GTO was developed to contest the 1962 3-liter class FIA GT World Championship series of classical endurance-racing events. Selective production at Maranello and in the Scaglietti body plant in Modena ran on through the 1963 FIA GT World Championship and — sure enough — the Ferrari 250 GTO won the World title both seasons in succession.

Ferrari 250 GTO chassis 3851GT offered here was acquired by young Italian enthusiast Fabrizio Violati 49 years ago, in 1965. He was scion of a wealthy family with considerable business interests in agriculture and mineral-water bottling. In essence the genial, hard-driving Roman became the fourth owner that 3851GT had had during its young life.

Starting around 1974, Violati began to acquire further Ferraris and form Collezione Maranello Rosso. The collection was housed into purpose-built premises between San Marino and the Italian coastal resort city of Rimini. In his genuinely enthusiastic and frequently active ownership, and in that — since his 2010 death — of his estate, 3851GT has ever since been preserved, maintained, exercised and adored.

Steve taught high school auto shop before moving to Atlanta, GA, where his love of sports cars led him to FAF Motorcars, the former Ferrari dealer where he served as General Manager and Vice President. He has been a self-proclaimed “one-trick pony,” coveting the Ferrari marque. He has been involved in concours judging for over 25 years and is a member of the IAC/PFA, an international committee overseeing high-level Ferrari concours judging. He is chief judge of the Celebration Exotic Car Show in Celebration, FL.

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